Support Syrian Refugee Resettlement and Stand for Welcome
- by: International Rescue Committee
- recipient: Your Governor and members of Congress
On Friday, November 13, the barbaric attacks in Paris shook our collective conscience and the world caught a glimpse of what a terrorist group like ISIS is capable of.
The over 4 million Syrian refugees who have fled their country have been living with this terror for almost five years. ISIS, government forces, and other militant groups have subjected them to horrifying violence and indiscriminate killing.
Now, many of our elected officials are wrongly calling for a moratorium on Syrian refugee resettlement citing insufficient security measures and unfounded fears that terrorists may infiltrate the resettlement program. Some are even calling for restrictions on funding that discriminate on the basis of national origin or religious belief.
Banning vulnerable Syrian refugees from resettlement is risking innocent lives and will not make America safer. On the contrary, when our leaders feed into ISIS's propaganda of Muslim vs. non-Muslim they are making us less safe.
Resettlement of refugees of all races, religions and national origins has been one of the success stories of our country. Now is not the time to abandon this proud tradition.
Sign the petition and ask your Governor and your member of Congress to support refugee resettlement and stand for welcome!
The over 4 million Syrian refugees who have fled their country have been living with this terror for almost five years. ISIS, government forces, and other militant groups have subjected them to horrifying violence and indiscriminate killing.
Now, many of our elected officials are wrongly calling for a moratorium on Syrian refugee resettlement citing insufficient security measures and unfounded fears that terrorists may infiltrate the resettlement program. Some are even calling for restrictions on funding that discriminate on the basis of national origin or religious belief.
Banning vulnerable Syrian refugees from resettlement is risking innocent lives and will not make America safer. On the contrary, when our leaders feed into ISIS's propaganda of Muslim vs. non-Muslim they are making us less safe.
Resettlement of refugees of all races, religions and national origins has been one of the success stories of our country. Now is not the time to abandon this proud tradition.
Sign the petition and ask your Governor and your member of Congress to support refugee resettlement and stand for welcome!
Dear Governor and members of Congress:
The barbaric attacks against innocent people in Paris shock our collective conscience. The U.S. must do all it can to combat senseless acts of violence and terrorism around the world. But we must also ensure that fear does not scapegoat innocent refugees and erode our nation's core values.
I am very concerned about calls for the wider suspension of the refugee resettlement program, and other attempts to impose restrictions on resettlement on the basis of the national origin or religious belief of specific groups of refugees. This is discriminatory and therefore incompatible with fundamental American values. It also jeopardizes U.S. leadership and our moral standing in the world. Refugees have enriched communities across our country and have been part of the American fabric for generations. Historically our nation has responded to every major war or conflict and has resettled refugees from Africa, South East Asia, Eastern Europe as well as the Middle East. Resettlement of refugees of all races, religions and national origins has been one of the success stories of our country. Now is not the time to abandon this proud tradition.
It is deeply disappointing to hear some elected officials equating Syrian refugees to the militant groups that are the reason for their flight. On Friday, November 13, the world caught a horrific glimpse of what a terrorist group like ISIS is capable of. The over 4 million Syrian refugees who have fled their country have been subjected not just to ISIS but to government forces and various other armed actors. They have been living with terror for almost five years. The Syrian crisis is a conflict that has been brutal in the indiscriminate killing of civilians.
Refugees are the most thoroughly vetted group of people amongst all immigrant groups who come to the U.S. Security screenings are rigorous and involve the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the Department of Defense and multiple intelligence agencies. Department of Homeland Security officials interview each refugee to determine whether they meet the refugee definition and whether they are admissible to the United States. Refugees undergo a series of biometric and investigatory background checks, including collection and analysis of personal data, fingerprints, photographs, and other background information, all of which is carefully checked by specially-trained analysts and vetted against government databases. The entire process typically takes more than two years — and often much more — before a refugee family arrives in the U.S. There is no need for Congress to impose additional restrictions or security measures. Banning Syrian refugees from resettlement will not make America safer. On the contrary, by feeding into ISIS propaganda that Muslims are marginalized in the West, it makes us all less safe.
To turn our backs on refugees would be to betray our nation's core values, and would send a demoralizing and dangerous message to the world. I call upon you to demonstrate leadership by supporting refugee resettlement, and to ensure that our nation’s humanitarian efforts to aid Syrian and all other refugees around the world stay strong. Please stand for welcome.
[Your Comment]
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Sign PetitionSign PetitionThe barbaric attacks against innocent people in Paris shock our collective conscience. The U.S. must do all it can to combat senseless acts of violence and terrorism around the world. But we must also ensure that fear does not scapegoat innocent refugees and erode our nation's core values.
I am very concerned about calls for the wider suspension of the refugee resettlement program, and other attempts to impose restrictions on resettlement on the basis of the national origin or religious belief of specific groups of refugees. This is discriminatory and therefore incompatible with fundamental American values. It also jeopardizes U.S. leadership and our moral standing in the world. Refugees have enriched communities across our country and have been part of the American fabric for generations. Historically our nation has responded to every major war or conflict and has resettled refugees from Africa, South East Asia, Eastern Europe as well as the Middle East. Resettlement of refugees of all races, religions and national origins has been one of the success stories of our country. Now is not the time to abandon this proud tradition.
It is deeply disappointing to hear some elected officials equating Syrian refugees to the militant groups that are the reason for their flight. On Friday, November 13, the world caught a horrific glimpse of what a terrorist group like ISIS is capable of. The over 4 million Syrian refugees who have fled their country have been subjected not just to ISIS but to government forces and various other armed actors. They have been living with terror for almost five years. The Syrian crisis is a conflict that has been brutal in the indiscriminate killing of civilians.
Refugees are the most thoroughly vetted group of people amongst all immigrant groups who come to the U.S. Security screenings are rigorous and involve the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the Department of Defense and multiple intelligence agencies. Department of Homeland Security officials interview each refugee to determine whether they meet the refugee definition and whether they are admissible to the United States. Refugees undergo a series of biometric and investigatory background checks, including collection and analysis of personal data, fingerprints, photographs, and other background information, all of which is carefully checked by specially-trained analysts and vetted against government databases. The entire process typically takes more than two years — and often much more — before a refugee family arrives in the U.S. There is no need for Congress to impose additional restrictions or security measures. Banning Syrian refugees from resettlement will not make America safer. On the contrary, by feeding into ISIS propaganda that Muslims are marginalized in the West, it makes us all less safe.
To turn our backs on refugees would be to betray our nation's core values, and would send a demoralizing and dangerous message to the world. I call upon you to demonstrate leadership by supporting refugee resettlement, and to ensure that our nation’s humanitarian efforts to aid Syrian and all other refugees around the world stay strong. Please stand for welcome.
[Your Comment]
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
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